MISSOULA, Mont. – Things didn't start off exactly as planned, but Idaho (4-3-2, 1-0-0) turned the game around quickly to earn a dominant, 4-1 victory over Montana (4-4-1, 0-1-0) to open up Big Sky play.
 
"I'm really proud of our players and how they responded in the first half," said head coach Derek Pittman.  "It was a little bit of a difficult decision by the referee to award the penalty in the beginning, but we escaped that.  Torell did an excellent job in goal and the rest of our players did a great job in fighting back and getting that first goal.  Lex hit an absolute screamer, I'm really, really proud of her for finishing that.
 
"Then Kavita doing exactly what we do defensively to go ahead and put us up 2-0.  Overall, as a team, our intensity, our mentality, our commitment to the game plan was spot on today.  I thought it was our most complete game up to this point."
 
The game changed in the 20^th minute, with Montana earning a penalty kick.  The Grizzlies elected to bring up their own keeper to take the shot.  Torell Stewart made the right move and seemed to have the goal covered, but the shot went wide left anyway.
 
Idaho captured the momentum almost immediately following.  Elexis Schlossarek got the scoring started in the 23^rd minute, burying her third of the season.  Schlossarek took the ball away from a Montana defender about 30 yards out, took a couple touches toward goal and lined up a perfect left-footed shot toward the far post.  The Montana keeper managed to get her fingertips on the ball, but it carried too much pace and easily found the back of the net.
 
Idaho doubled its lead just minutes later in a similar manner.  This time Kavita Battan came up with the steal at the top of the box, set herself up with a couple of dribbles and found nearly the exact same spot as Schlossarek four minutes before.
 
The Vandals got some insurance in the 63^rd minute.  Emma Eddy and Myah Merino combined on the left side to spring Merino toward the endline.  Merino sent in low cross that the Montana defense read correctly, but the clearance wasn't good enough and Olivia Baggerly crushed the loose ball into the back of the net.
 
Eddy got one for herself in the 65^th minute, on a nice finish off of a free kick from Schlossarek.
 
"I think a lot of players came off the bench and stepped into the role that we needed them to," Pittman continued.  "I think Myah did a great job in creating chances.  It was her work ethic that got her to the endline to get a cross off that ultimately led to the third goal for Liv.  Then with the fourth and final goal off of Lex's free kick, Emma Eddy did a phenomenal job of taking that ball out of the air and putting it top shelf.  Again, I can't understate what Anna Rose Wiencek did, or what Sophia French did, or what Crosby MacKinnon did in some of her first minutes of the season at outside back.  A lot of players stepped up today and were ready to play and step in when needed."
 
Montana is no easy place to play.  The Grizzlies entered the matchup riding an 11-game conference unbeaten streak at home, dating back to 2013.  Montana had not given up four goals in a game at home since the 2011 season.
 
"It's a massive three points on the road in Big Sky play," said Pittman.  "Not many teams are going to come in here and get a result against Montana with the way they play.  Montana is a very good team.  They're organized, they're athletic.  I think what we did today really frustrated them.  I thought our players responded very, very well.  We know it's difficult to come to Missoula and get a result, but being on the road as much as we have been, we were prepared to come into a difficult environment.  Our players put in a tremendous amount of effort and I couldn't be more proud of them.  Obviously we want to keep this momentum going as we head into another tough place to play at Eastern Washington on Sunday."
 
The Vandals head to local rival Eastern Washington on Sunday afternoon.  Check back with GoVandals.com tomorrow for more information.
 
Fans can stay up-to-date on all things Idaho soccer by following the team on Twitter and Instagram, @VandalsSoccer, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals Women's Soccer.

For more information on Idaho Athletics, visit GoVandals.com.  Fans can also find Idaho on Twitter and Instagram, @Idaho_Vandals, or on Facebook by searching Idaho Vandals.